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Superman: Tales from the Phantom Zone
One of the mainstays of Superman stories from the 1950s and '60s was the Phantom Zone--the mysterious realm where Kryptonian criminals were sent for imprisonment. These stories, never before collected in a single volume, tell what happens when the criminals escape to threaten The Man of Steel and his friends.
148 pages, Paperback
First published June 9, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 25, 2024
Superman: Tales from the Phantom Zone
The Phantom Zone - an alternate plane of existence discovered by Jor-El and used by the Science Council to house Krypton's most despicable criminals and whose guardianship is one of Kal-El's greatest responsibilities on Earth.
A mixture of art and narrative styles makes this an interesting read, especially since the Zone is too often used as a plot device rather than a science fiction idea in it's own right.
The Phantom Zone - an alternate plane of existence discovered by Jor-El and used by the Science Council to house Krypton's most despicable criminals and whose guardianship is one of Kal-El's greatest responsibilities on Earth.
A mixture of art and narrative styles makes this an interesting read, especially since the Zone is too often used as a plot device rather than a science fiction idea in it's own right.
January 21, 2021
I got this on a lark because I like some of the cheesy fun of the silver age Superman. Some of the tales were okay but - to be honest - this isn't worth your time. The stories have the connection of involving the Phantom Zone BUT it turns out most writers couldn't think of a good way to use it or construct interesting characters that escaped from it. The best story is one I have read before - the introduction of Mon-el.
The worst story was written by Otto Binder and it was so bad it might rank up there as one of the worst stories I have ever read. It was insanely bad. It is called "The Man Who Destroyed Krypton" and it involves a villain called "Black Zero" who was REALLY the person who destroyed Krypton. Apparently Jor-el was an idiot and Krypton wasn't going to explode...but Black Zero happened along and helped blow it up so Jor-el accidentally was right. Confused you never heard about Black Zero? Well that's because other writers (rightfully) said "Wow Otto, that was really stupid of you to retcon the destruction of Krypton like that. For a villain so lame we will never use him again. We are all going to ignore your idiotic story" So back in modern times Black Zero decides to blow up the Earth - for shits and giggles...and he can't be stopped because...he has plastic around his brain so he can't be hypnotized. You read that right...he has a plastic coating around his brain and THAT prevents hypnosis...Is that the end of the stupidity? I wish!! To bring the Phantom Zone into this story Superman releases the meanest criminal Jax-Ur..but forget about his past characterization in THIS issue Jax-Ur is BFFs with Superman to take down Black Zero. But wait, there's more. Black Zero has a red kryptonite bullet which he shoots at Jax_Ur so Jax_Ur is now mutating into different reptiles. But wait, there's more...one of the reptiles he mutates into is Medusa's head so Black Zero turns to stone. You know...Medusa's head, it's a reptile! Trust Otto Binder, he knows these things. But wait, there's more...Black zero has already launched an unstoppable missile to destroy Earth. No worries, Superman will just stop it because it is still hours away form Earth BUT he is warned "If you touch it then it will explode and the dark matter will kill everyone on Earth". So what does Superman do? Get some Justice Leaguers (like Green Lantern) to help? Ignore the warning and try anyway? Let it blow up but use his super powers to stop the black matter form reaching Earth since the missile is still so far away? No! Otto Binder thinks...Superman would just give up. And give up he does! He even takes the time to change into Clark Kent so he can mope around with his Daily Planet friends. But they don't know they are doomed so Jimmy Olsen still can enjoy a Lifesaver candy. Wait! Thinks Superman - that's it!! Thanks Jimmy!! Superman digs a hole all the way through the Earth so the missile just passes right through the hole and out the other side and the Earth is saved. Apparently Superman didn't know what holes were until he saw a Lifesaver candy. at this point you might be thinking - Michael made all of this up. That Lifesaver bit is too insane. Superman gave up and only got his idea from a Lifesaver candy? Can you imagine? "Well the Earth is going to die - I could sit down and think of a way to save it OR I could just give up and hope inspiration hits me." Trust me...everything I said was how Otto wrote it and YES it might be the worst Superman story of all time. Otto Binder, you may have invented Black Adam and Supergirl but you also wrote this story. This is thes story people need to remember you for. The worst Superman story ever.
The worst story was written by Otto Binder and it was so bad it might rank up there as one of the worst stories I have ever read. It was insanely bad. It is called "The Man Who Destroyed Krypton" and it involves a villain called "Black Zero" who was REALLY the person who destroyed Krypton. Apparently Jor-el was an idiot and Krypton wasn't going to explode...but Black Zero happened along and helped blow it up so Jor-el accidentally was right. Confused you never heard about Black Zero? Well that's because other writers (rightfully) said "Wow Otto, that was really stupid of you to retcon the destruction of Krypton like that. For a villain so lame we will never use him again. We are all going to ignore your idiotic story" So back in modern times Black Zero decides to blow up the Earth - for shits and giggles...and he can't be stopped because...he has plastic around his brain so he can't be hypnotized. You read that right...he has a plastic coating around his brain and THAT prevents hypnosis...Is that the end of the stupidity? I wish!! To bring the Phantom Zone into this story Superman releases the meanest criminal Jax-Ur..but forget about his past characterization in THIS issue Jax-Ur is BFFs with Superman to take down Black Zero. But wait, there's more. Black Zero has a red kryptonite bullet which he shoots at Jax_Ur so Jax_Ur is now mutating into different reptiles. But wait, there's more...one of the reptiles he mutates into is Medusa's head so Black Zero turns to stone. You know...Medusa's head, it's a reptile! Trust Otto Binder, he knows these things. But wait, there's more...Black zero has already launched an unstoppable missile to destroy Earth. No worries, Superman will just stop it because it is still hours away form Earth BUT he is warned "If you touch it then it will explode and the dark matter will kill everyone on Earth". So what does Superman do? Get some Justice Leaguers (like Green Lantern) to help? Ignore the warning and try anyway? Let it blow up but use his super powers to stop the black matter form reaching Earth since the missile is still so far away? No! Otto Binder thinks...Superman would just give up. And give up he does! He even takes the time to change into Clark Kent so he can mope around with his Daily Planet friends. But they don't know they are doomed so Jimmy Olsen still can enjoy a Lifesaver candy. Wait! Thinks Superman - that's it!! Thanks Jimmy!! Superman digs a hole all the way through the Earth so the missile just passes right through the hole and out the other side and the Earth is saved. Apparently Superman didn't know what holes were until he saw a Lifesaver candy. at this point you might be thinking - Michael made all of this up. That Lifesaver bit is too insane. Superman gave up and only got his idea from a Lifesaver candy? Can you imagine? "Well the Earth is going to die - I could sit down and think of a way to save it OR I could just give up and hope inspiration hits me." Trust me...everything I said was how Otto wrote it and YES it might be the worst Superman story of all time. Otto Binder, you may have invented Black Adam and Supergirl but you also wrote this story. This is thes story people need to remember you for. The worst Superman story ever.
June 18, 2010
What can I say? This is Silver Age Superman at its finest. Back when we really didn't care if the title "Last Son of Krypton" was a misnomer, dozens of other Kryptonians could turn up at any moment and usually prove to be bad guys. The real surprise about this collection, and the real treat, is that none of stories involving General Zod appear. Perhaps DC is trying to garner interest in other characters that have yet to appear in the recently re-introduced Kryptonian criminal population. If that's the case, they've succeeded.
February 27, 2016
Gloriously silly tales from the "Silver Age" of comic books. Nothing beats the absolutely blithering nonsense you'll find in a typical Superman comic from this era: legions of Superman robots, tiny Krytponian cities in bottles, using "elements" to make super androids, Lana Lang sending Lois into the Phantom Zone, Superman killing an innocent superhero with lead, and Jimmy Olsen "Elastic Lad" nonsense; all of these things (and more) are included in this book. Not to all tastes, naturally, but if you don't mind the sillier sides of superheroes, this is the one for you.
January 27, 2014
Generally an interesting set of stories, and unlike most of these themed collections, a lot of the stories came out around the same few years in the 1960s, which provides a bit more unity to the collection although it also creates some awkward repetition, as the "Superboy has to free a prisoner from the Zone" story is very much a dry-run for the "Superman also has to do the same thing!" story that comes RIGHT AFTER. Ah well. Probably better not to read a paperback like this all at once, anyway!
May 11, 2013
Deeply daft old stories from the Silver Age of comics. Expect crazy plots, zany twists, and massive chunks of expository dialogue at every turn. Fun if you like that sort of thing.
January 11, 2016
I don't really like the 60s comics.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews